News from the plant

Well now that Honeywell has "laid-off" most of its workforce, some strange facts are coming from the plant.  A number of Shaw laborers will return to work, conveniently renamed "Shaw Capital" workers.  Also, the company is refusing to give ANY details of the so-called "damaged" equipment.  For the damage to be such a "danger" to the workforce, management sure didn't mind leaving us in the plant with absolutely no announcement of damaged equipment while we took the plant down and locked it out.  If it is truly that much of a danger then someone dropped the ball by letting the workforce unknowingly work around it. 

The company went so far the day before the "lay-off" as to have the supervisors tell us that there has been no talk of lay-offs and that we need to get ready for shut down.  It looks like Honeywell has not forgotten how to deceive the public or pull the wool over their own people's eyes either.  We are not calling the company's recent action more retaliation, but something sure smells fishy, and this time, it's not the river.

In devious fashion, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has scheduled a community meeting tonight with no notice to the actual community except for a brief announcement on today's noon news broadcast.  Don't miss this meeting as Honeywell and the NRC would like. It will be at the Massac County Courthouse at 7:00. This is our opportunity to demand answers from the NRC. 

Happy Easter to all of our members, the community, our supporters, and yes, even the company.  As Easter comes to an end tonight, we give thanks for the time that we spend with our families.  Dean Palmer enjoyed a nice day with his wife and two sons today.  That's only worth mentioning because of what happened earlier this week.  Two Union members working the exact same job, one scheduled to work Sunday day shift, and one scheduled to work Sunday evening shift, both wanted to go to worship services with their families.  The day shift worker wanted to attend morning services and the evening shift worker wanted to attend an evening service.  Sounds like there's not much that can fix this..... except that the recently ratified contract allows for shift trades.  Both workers completed the required requests and turned them in to the Production manager, Dean Palmer, within the required time.  They were returned from Palmer on Wednesday, denied.  The reason that Palmer denied their request "There's no benefit to the company".  Well Dean, we hope you're still here in 2 and half short years when this contract expires......

When do the Women and Men of Steel in Metropolis quit fighting?  No one really knows for sure because they never have.  How can you quit when the company has villains like Tommy Barnes and Larry Smith around.  Yes, it's true.  Even after calling another supervisor the "N-word", Tommy Barnes still works at the Metropolis facility.  After a lengthy investigation, the company has decided to allow Barnes to stay until he is able to retire later this summer.  The rules just don't seem to apply to those that sit behind a desk.

With elections around the corner, the company is anxious to find out who they will be dealing with on the union side.  Some, like Human Resources Manager Derek Bartholomew, have even been out campaigning against some of the nominees.  Don't worry Derek, none of us bite, but as the old union saying goes, "if you screw us, we multiply".

Some of you may have recently read a story online from our old friend Mike Elk.  We appreciate Mike's continued dedication to our fight.  Our union is stronger then ever and we appreciate everything that our members, the community, our supporters, and especially our District (#7) and the International have done for us from the beginning and what they continue to do.